Jeremiah 31:9

31:9 They will come back shedding tears of contrition.

I will bring them back praying prayers of repentance.

I will lead them besides streams of water,

along smooth paths where they will never stumble.

I will do this because I am Israel’s father;

Ephraim is my firstborn son.’”

Jeremiah 31:18-20

31:18 I have indeed heard the people of Israel say mournfully,

‘We were like a calf untrained to the yoke.

You disciplined us and we learned from it.

Let us come back to you and we will do so,

for you are the Lord our God.

31:19 For after we turned away from you we repented.

After we came to our senses we beat our breasts in sorrow.

We are ashamed and humiliated

because of the disgraceful things we did previously.’

31:20 Indeed, the people of Israel are my dear children.

They are the children I take delight in.

For even though I must often rebuke them,

I still remember them with fondness.

So I am deeply moved with pity for them

and will surely have compassion on them.

I, the Lord, affirm it!